Lighter

ABSTRACT

The present invention is to provide a lighter comprising a body including a recess at its forward end; a flame spout received in the recess, the flame spout having both sides in its rear in pivotal connection to both sides of the recess such that the flame spout is adapted to pivot about the recess to either fully retract into the body so as to protect the flame spout and prevent same from being damaged due to collision or dispose away from the body; and a limiting assembly movably disposed proximate the flame spout, the limiting assembly being adapted to fasten the flame spout when the flame spout is disposed at a predetermined angle about the body by pivoting away from the body. By utilizing this lighter, flame may throw out of the flame spout at the predetermined angle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to lighters and more particularly to such a lighter with improved characteristics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Science and technology advances day after day, and people spare no effort to renovate and make progress in the development of technological inventions, not only emphasizing on high-tech products and areas, but also on products for daily uses. To improve the convenience and practicability of these daily products or bring our life to a higher quality level or have a better life, constant discoveries and improvements are made according to the inconvenience of our life and the complaints of the poor design of the daily products.

Lighters are widely used in many conditions of our daily life. For example, a lighter is used for lighting a cigarette or charcoal for barbecue. Such type of portable lighter really brings a lot of convenience to many people. A conventional lighter is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a fuel reservoir 1, an ignition mechanism 2, and a flame spout 3. The fuel reservoir 1 is filled with pressurized flammable fuel. The flame spout 3 is provided at an open end of a projected portion of the fuel reservoir 2. The flame spout 3 is in fluid communication with the fuel reservoir 1. A spark member 4 is provided in the flame spout 3. The spark member 4 is adapted to produce a spark at the flame spout 3 as fuel supplied from the fuel reservoir 2 thereto. Thus, fuel is burned at the flame spout 3 to produce a flame. The lighter is typically carried in a pocket or bag. However, it is often that the flame spout 3 is clogged by inserted foreign objects (e.g., key or pen). As such, the spark member 4 is damaged. The lighter thus may malfunction (i.e., inoperative). Also, flame has the characteristic of burning upward. Thus, flame may not reach certain points (i.e., dead ends) above the ignition (i.e., effective burning being impossible). Alternatively, flame may reach the flame spout 3 to damage it. Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved lighter in order to overcome the inadequacies of the prior art and bring a more convenient use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

After considerable research and experimentation, a lighter according to the present invention has been devised so as to overcome the above drawbacks (e.g., the flame spout clogged by inserted foreign objects, spark member damaged, lighter malfunctioned, and burning dead ends) of the prior art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighter comprising a body including a recess at its forward end; a flame spout received in the recess, the flame spout having both sides in its rear in pivotal connection to both sides of the recess such that the flame spout is adapted to pivot about the recess to either fully retract into the body so as to protect the flame spout and prevent same from being damaged due to collision or dispose away from the body; and a limiting assembly movably disposed proximate the flame spout, the limiting assembly being adapted to fasten the flame spout when the flame spout is disposed at a predetermined angle about the body by pivoting away from the body. By utilizing this lighter, flame may throw out of the flame spout at the predetermined angle.

In one aspect of the present invention two tabs are provided at both sides of the limiting assembly, two pins are provided at both sides of the flame spout and the body, either pin comprises an end stop of hollow disk, the stop comprises a plurality of grooves equally spaced apart each extended from an outer edge of the stop to its center, and the tab at either side of the limiting assembly is adapted to dispose in the corresponding groove such that the limiting assembly is adapted to secure to the pin for stopping the pivoting of the flame spout.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a positioning member at the other end of the limiting assembly, the positioning member including two opposite side tabs, and the flame spout includes a through hole on one side, the through hole including a central, circular hole and a plurality of troughs extended outward from the circular hole, the troughs being equally spaced each other and each trough being shaped and conformed to slidably receive either tab such that the positioning member is adapted to pass the circular hole and any pair of the aligned troughs for fastening the flame spout, thereby prohibiting the flame spout from pivoting.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional lighter;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lighter according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the lighter of FIG. 2 according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lighter of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of lighter according to the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lighter of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a lighter in accordance with the invention is shown. The lighter comprises a parallelepiped hollow body 10 and a flame spout 20. The body 10 comprises a recess 11 at its forward end. The recess 11 is adapted to receive the flame spout 20. The flame spout 20 has both sides in pivotal connection to both sides of the recess 11 in the body 10. Thus, the flame spout 20 is adapted to pivot about the recess 11 to fully retract into the body 10. Thus, the flame spout 20 is protected. Otherwise the flame spout 20 may damage due to collision. Alternatively, the flame spout 20 may pivot relative to the recess 11 away from the body 10. In the lighter there is further provided a limiting assembly 30 in the flame spout 20. The limiting assembly 30 is adapted to fasten the flame spout 20 of the lighter such that the flame spout 20 may fasten in the body 10 or the limiting assembly 30 may fasten the flame spout 20 in its pivotal leaving action (see FIG. 4). Thus, the flame spout 20 may be disposed at a predetermined angle about the body 10. As an end, flame may throw out of the flame spout 20 at the predetermined angle.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. A space 21 is defined in the flame spout 20. The limiting assembly 30 is received in the space 21 proximate a pivotal portion of the flame spout 20 and the body 10. The limiting assembly 30 comprises a rectangular body 301 and a flange 31 at one end of the body 301 spaced from a surface of the flame spout 20. A protrusion 33 is provided at the other end of the body 301 opposite the flange 31. An elastic member (e.g., spring) 34 is put on the protrusion 33. Two tabs 32 are provided at both sides of the body 301 proximate the protrusion 33.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 again, the flame spout 20 comprises two first holes 25 at its both sides also proximate both sides of the limiting assembly 30. The body 10 further comprises two second holes 12 at both sides of the recess 11 aligned with the first holes 25. Either pin 24 is inserted into the aligned first and second holes 12 and 25 to face the recess 11. The pin 24 comprises a cylinder 240 at one end, a stop 23 at the other end connected to the cylinder 240. The cylinder 240 is inserted into the aligned first and second holes 12 and 25 to couple the body 10 and the flame spout 20 together. The stop 23 abuts against an inner surface of the flame spout 20. The stop 23 is a hollow disk and comprises a plurality of grooves 241 equally spaced apart each extended from an outer edge of the stop 23 to its center. The tab 32 at either side of the limiting assembly 30 is adapted to dispose in the corresponding groove 241. As such, the limiting assembly 30 may be releasably secured to the pin 24. Thus, the flame spout 20 may not pivot since the pins 24 are fixed. Further, an internal raised member 22 of U-shaped is provided in the flame spout 20 facing one end of the protrusion 33 so as to prevent the protrusion 33 from moving out of the raised member 22.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in response to pushing the flange 31 toward the raised member 22 the elastic member 34 on the protrusion 33 contacts the raised member 22 to be compressed thereby. Also, the stops 23 are disposed at a moving path (i.e., both sides) of the flange 31 for limiting the movement of the limiting assembly 30. Both sides of the flange 31 are stopped by the stops 23 so as to prevent the limiting assembly 30 from pushing out of the flame spout 20. Otherwise, the limiting assembly 30 may not able to return to its original position. At this time, the tabs 32 clear the grooves 241 to enter a center of the stop 23. Thus, the side tabs 32 of the limiting assembly 30 disengage with the pins 24. As such, the flame spout 20 may pivot as the pins 24 rotate. To the contrary, in a case of the flame spout 20 pivoted farther away from the recess 11 of the body 10 and the pushing force removed, elastic force stored by the compressed elastic member 34 may force the side tabs 32 of the limiting assembly 30 to slide along surfaces of the stops 23 until the flame spout 20 pivots to a predetermined angle. Thus, the side tabs 32 of the limiting assembly 30 face another two grooves 241. The compression force of the elastic member 34 pushes the tabs 32 to enter another two grooves 241. The limiting assembly 30 returns to its original position as the elastic member 34 compresses. As an end, the flame spout 20 is fastened again (i.e., rotation being prohibited).

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The limiting assembly 30 is provided in the body 10 and the flame spout 20. The limiting assembly 30 comprises a bar 35 of half cylindrical section, a push button 36 at an outer end of the bar 35, the push button 36 being projected from an outer surface of the body 10 to be distal from one side of the recess 11, a flange 37 formed on the bar 35 proximate the push button 36, the flange 37 being disposed in the body 10 and an outer surface of the flange 37 facing the push button 36 being abutted against an inner surface of the body 10, an elastic member 34 put on the bar 35, the elastic member 34 on the bar 35 being urged against the flange 37 opposite the push button 36 (i.e., on a portion of the bar 35 within the body 10), the elastic member 34 being adapted to compress to store energy to force the limiting assembly 30 to return to its original position, and a positioning member 38 at the other end of the bar 35 distal the push button 36 (i.e., the positioning member 38 provided at the other end of the bar 35), the positioning member 38 including two opposite side tabs 32, the positioning member 38 being disposed on an inner surface of the flame spout 20 with the tabs 32 fastened at the flame spout 20 so as to dispose at an angle about the body 10.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 again, the body 10 is a hollow parallelepiped and comprises a third hole 13 on one side distal the recess 11 for permitting the push button 36 to dispose therein, a fourth hole 14 on one side of the recess 11 aligned with the third hole 13 in the body 10 for permitting the positioning member 38 to dispose therein, two protrusions 15 at both sides of the fourth hole 14 of the body 10, the protrusions 15 being adapted to contact the flange 37 for preventing the flange 37 from moving further toward the fourth hole 14, and a fifth hole 16 on the other side of the recess 11 opposite the fourth hole 14 on the body 10.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 again, the flame spout 20 comprises a through hole 26 on one side aligned with the fourth hole 14, the through hole 26 being adapted to permit the positioning member 38 to pass, the through hole 26 including a central, circular hole 27 and a plurality of (e.g., four) troughs 241 extended outward from the circular hole 27, the troughs 241 being equally spaced each other and each trough 241 being shaped and conformed to slidably receive either tab 32 such that the positioning member 38 is adapted to pass the circular hole 27 and either pair of aligned troughs 241 so as to fasten the limiting assembly 30 in the flame spout 20. The flame spout 20 comprises a pin 24 on the other side opposite the fourth hole 14, the pin 24 disposed in the fifth hole 16 to contact the body 10. Thus, the limiting assembly 30 may pass the third, the fourth, and the through holes 13, 14, and 26 to dispose in the body 10 into the flame spout 20. The positioning member 38 is provided in the through hole 26. The flange 37 and the elastic member 34 put on the bar 35 are provided between the third and the fourth holes 13 and 14. The push button 36 is projected from the third hole 13 out of the body 10 (i.e., exposed to an outer surface of the body 10).

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 again, the elastic member 34 on the bar 35 is prevented from passing the fourth 14 when a pushing force exerts on the push button 36 to push it toward the body 10. An in turn, the elastic member 34 urges an inner surface of the body 10 to compress against the inner surface of the body 10 and the flange 37. Thus, the flange 37 contacts the protrusions 15 to prevent the limiting assembly 30 from being moved out of its predetermined position. At this time, the positioning member 38 moves toward the space 21 to clear the through hole 26. Thus, the tabs 32 clear the through hole 26. At this time, the bar 35 serves the same as the pin 24 with respect to both the flame spout 20 and the body 10. As such, the flame spout 20 may pivot out of the body 10 about the bar 35 and the pin 24. To the contrary, in a case of the flame spout 20 pivoted farther away from the recess 11 of the body 10 and the pushing force removed, elastic force stored by the compressed elastic member 34 may force the side tabs 32 of the positioning member 38 to urge against an inner surface of the flame spout 20 until the flame spout 20 pivots in an opposite direction to a predetermined angle about the body 10. Also, the tabs 32 of the positioning member 38 face another pair of troughs 241. The expansion force of the elastic member 34 forces the positioning member 38 to return to its original position. As a result, the flame spout 20 is prohibited from pivoting due to fastening.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 again, in both of the above embodiments a fuel reservoir 40 filled with flammable gas is provided in a rear portion of the body 10 distal the recess 11. A valve 41 is provided at a front end of the fuel reservoir 40 for permitting flammable gas to exit. A pipe 42 is extended from the valve 41 through the pin 24 into the flame spout 20. An arc generator 50 is provided in the body 10 proximate the fuel reservoir 40. The arc generator 51 comprises an spark wire 51 extended through the pin 24 into the flame spout 20 to be adjacent the pipe 42. Thus, a pressing of the arc generator 50 may cause the spark wire 51 to produce a spark. Also, a trigger 60 is projected from an outer surface of the body 10. One end of the trigger 60 is connected to both the valve 41 and the arc generator 50. Thus, pressing the trigger 60 will press both the valve 41 and the arc generator 50 to open the valve 41. And in turn, flammable gas exits the fuel reservoir 40. At the same time, spark is produced by the spark wire 51. As a result, flame occurs as the flammable gas burns in the flame spout 20.

Moreover, within the body 10 there are further provided a fuel adjustment valve 43 and an ignition button 61. The fuel adjustment valve 43 is disposed at one side of the fuel reservoir 40 and exposed to the body 10. The fuel adjustment valve 43 is adapted to adjust amount of flammable gas to be supplied from the fuel reservoir 40. As such, flame can be controlled. Further, the ignition button 61 is adapted to movably insert into the trigger 60. Top of the trigger 60 is formed on an outer surface of the body 10. Disabling the ignition button 61 will force the ignition button 61 to insert into the trigger 60. Thus, the trigger 60 is prevented from exerting a pressing force onto both the valve 41 and the arc generator 50. As an end, the lighter is disabled.

In view of above, the flame spout 20 and the body 10 of the lighter are pivotably connected together. Thus, the flame spout 20 may pivot to either retract into the recess 11 to receive in the body 10 or extend away from the body 10 to leave the recess 11. Also, the tabs 32 disposed in the troughs 241 may fasten the flame spout 20 at the recess 11 in its pivotal leaving action. Thus, the flame spout 20 is disposed at a predetermined angle about the body 10. The invention has the following advantages: (1) The flame spout 20 received in the recess 11 of the body 10 is protected. Also, the spark wire 51 in the flame spout 20 is prevented from being damaged by inserted foreign objects. (2) The flame spout 20 fastened at the recess 11 in its pivotal leaving action causes the flame spout 20 to dispose at a predetermined angle about the body 10. Thus, flame can reach dead ends for carrying out an effective burning.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 

1. A lighter comprising: a body including a recess at its forward end; a flame spout received in the recess, the flame spout having both sides in its rear in pivotal connection to both sides of the recess such that the flame spout is adapted to pivot about the recess to either fully retract into the body or dispose away from the body; and a limiting assembly movably disposed in the body proximate the flame spout, the limiting assembly being adapted to fasten the flame spout when the flame spout is disposed at a predetermined angle about the body by pivoting.
 2. The lighter of claim 1, wherein the flame spout includes an internal space, and the limiting assembly is received in the space proximate a pivotal portion of the flame spout and the body, the limiting assembly including: a limiting body; a flange provided at one end of the limiting body spaced from an outer surface of the flame spout; a protrusion provided at the other end of the limiting body opposite the flange; an elastic member put on the protrusion, the elastic member being adapted to compress to return the limiting assembly may to its original position after the pivoting; and two tabs provided at both sides of the limiting body proximate the protrusion, the tabs being adapted to fasten the flame spout such that the flame spout is adapted to dispose at the predetermined angle about the body after the pivoting.
 3. The lighter of claim 2, wherein the space of the flame spout includes: two first holes provided at both sides of the limiting assembly; and two pins each inserted into the first hole to pivotably dispose on an inner surface of the recess.
 4. The lighter of claim 3, wherein the space of the flame spout further includes an internal raised member of U-shaped provided in the flame spout facing one end of the protrusion for preventing the protrusion from moving out of the raised member.
 5. The lighter of claim 3, wherein the body further includes two second holes provided at both sides of the recess with the pins pivotably disposed therein.
 6. The lighter of claim 3, wherein each pin includes: a cylinder provided at one end of the pin, the cylinder being inserted into the aligned first and second holes to couple to the body; and a stop provided at the other end of the pin connected to the cylinder, the stop abutted against an inner surface of the flame spout, the stop shaped as a hollow disk and including a plurality of equally spaced apart grooves each extended from an outer edge of the stop to its center; wherein the tab at either side of the limiting assembly is adapted to dispose in the corresponding groove such that the tab is adapted to releasably secure to the pin for prohibiting the limiting assembly from moving.
 7. The lighter of claim 1, wherein the limiting assembly includes: a bar; a push button provided at an outer end of the bar, the push button being projected from an outer surface of the body to be distal from one side of the recess; a positioning member provided at the other end of the bar, the positioning member including two opposite side tabs, the positioning member being disposed on an inner surface of the flame spout with the tabs fastened at the flame spout for disposing at a predetermined angle about the body; and an elastic member put on a portion of the bar within the body, the elastic member being adapted to compress to return the limiting assembly may to its original position after the pivoting.
 8. The lighter of claim 7, wherein the limiting assembly further includes a flange formed on the bar proximate the push button, the flange being disposed in the body and having its outer surface facing the push button being abutted against an inner surface of the body and its inner surface urged against the elastic member.
 9. The lighter of claim 8, wherein the body is hollow and further includes: a third hole provided on one side of the body distal the recess for permitting the push button to dispose therein; a fourth hole provided on one side of the recess aligned with the third hole in the body for permitting the positioning member to dispose therein; and a fifth hole provided on the other side of the body opposite the fourth hole.
 10. The lighter of claim 9, wherein the body further includes two protrusions at both sides of the fourth hole of the body, the protrusions being adapted to contact the flange for preventing the flange from moving further toward the fourth hole.
 11. The lighter of claim 1, wherein the flame spout includes an internal space including: a through hole provided on one side of the flame spout aligned with the fourth hole, the through hole being adapted to permit the positioning member to pass; and a pin provided on the other side of the flame spout opposite the fourth hole, the pin being disposed in the fifth hole to contact the body.
 12. The lighter of claim 11, wherein the through hole includes a central, circular hole and a plurality of troughs extended outward from the circular hole, the troughs being equally spaced each other and each trough being shaped and conformed to slidably receive either tab such that the positioning member is adapted to pass the circular hole and any pair of the aligned troughs for fastening the limiting assembly in the flame spout.
 13. The lighter of claim 2, wherein the body further includes: a fuel reservoir filled with flammable gas provided in a rear portion of the body distal the recess; a valve provided at a front end of the fuel reservoir for exiting the flammable gas; a pipe extended from the valve through the pin into the flame spout; an arc generator provided in the body proximate the fuel reservoir, the arc generator including an spark wire extended through the pin into the flame spout to be adjacent the pipe such that pressing the arc generator will cause the spark wire to produce a spark; and a trigger having one end projected from an outer surface of the body and the other end connected to both the valve and the arc generator such that pressing the trigger will activate both the valve and the arc generator.
 14. The lighter of claim 7, wherein the body further includes: a fuel reservoir filled with flammable gas provided in a rear portion of the body distal the recess; a valve provided at a front end of the fuel reservoir for exiting the flammable gas; a pipe extended from the valve through the pin into the flame spout; an arc generator provided in the body proximate the fuel reservoir, the arc generator including an spark wire extended through the pin into the flame spout to be adjacent the pipe such that pressing the arc generator will cause the spark wire to produce a spark; and a trigger having one end projected from an outer surface of the body and the other end connected to both the valve and the arc generator such that pressing the trigger will activate both the valve and the arc generator.
 15. The lighter of claim 2, wherein the body further includes: a fuel adjustment valve provided at one side of the fuel reservoir and exposed to the body, the fuel adjustment valve being adapted to adjust an amount of the flammable gas to be supplied from the fuel reservoir; and an ignition button having its top provided on an outer surface of the body, the ignition button being adapted to movably insert into the trigger such that disabling the ignition button will insert the ignition button into the trigger.
 16. The lighter of claim 7, wherein the body further includes: a fuel adjustment valve provided at one side of the fuel reservoir and exposed to the body, the fuel adjustment valve being adapted to adjust an amount of the flammable gas to be supplied from the fuel reservoir; and an ignition button having its top provided on an outer surface of the body, the ignition button being adapted to movably insert into the trigger such that disabling the ignition button will insert the ignition button into the trigger.
 17. The lighter of claim 7, wherein the bar has a half cylindrical section. 